Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?, 1975

This is nostalgia, not history. Accept that, and it's pretty good. A popular-style compilation of bits and pieces. Some people may even prefer the fact that it has no narration whatsoever---it just lets the clips of various high and low moments speak for themselves about the 1930s and 40s. But there is thus no point of view, except the implication that history is just a jumble of random events leading up to the craziness we call the eternal now, which is a little disturbing to professional historians, or anyone who is serious about active citizenship in the name of rational action. Therefore, the unidentified mixing of movie clips (they seem to quote extensively from just two or three movies, such as "Wild Boys of the Road" and one James Cagney movie) with newsreel and other actual footage is a curious blending of fact and entertainment, which is sort of a truism of its own in America---which I will admit at some theoretical level is significant about us as a people. And the compilers were among the first to discover some long-unseen color footage of certain figures, including extremely rare footage of President Roosevelt walking, which was almost all suppressed because he hated to be seen walking stiffly with his braces on. A very incomplete picture, but that said, it is just fine as diversion. Better a little history than none at all---I think. 6.09

What did you think about this review?

Thank you for voting.

Like Dislike

Abuse report sent

Report abuse